Waltco LSG (Lotionizing/Sanitizing Gloves)

ABSTRACT

A glove for protecting the hand of the user includes a substrate which includes an external surface of the glove, and a layer which includes an interior surface of the glove and which includes a first agent and a second agent. The first agent may be a moisturizing agent, and the second agent may be a sanitizing agent. The layer includes a third agent and the third agent may be a pH balancer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to gloves, and more specificallyto a combination glove, sanitizer, lotionizer and a pH balancer or acombination of these.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's medical profession, gloves are routinely used to provideprotection for the user of the gloves and the patient. Pathogens, germsand contaminants are found in all areas of today's society, but take onspecial importance in some areas such as operating rooms, emergencyrooms, ICU's, exam rooms, medical surgical units, doctors offices,clinics, rehab centers, nursing homes, restaurants, school cafeterias,hospitals, public bathrooms and other such areas. In order to alleviatethe problem, hands can be washed with soap and water. However, soap andwater may be only limited available or may be insufficient to eliminatethe adverse effects of these pathogens, germs and contaminants.Inconsistent hand washing is a large problem that all industries arefacing today. Thousands of patients are lost due to infections fromhospitals, the doctors office, the dentist office and clinics due toimproper and washing techniques or improper sanitization. Furthermore,people are infected in the food industries due to the improper handlingof food of customers and not providing sufficient protection forcombating germs. Furthermore, a solution to the cross-contaminationproblem is one of the most sought after solutions in today's medical andother industries. It is estimated that thousands could be saved if asolution to the cross-contamination problem was achieved.

The present invention incorporates by reference in their entirety U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,643,582, 6,742,521 and 6,352,700.

SUMMARY

A exam/surgical glove which may be made from elastomer material isdesigned and formulated with a combination of agents includingmoisturizer, sanitizer or skin pH balancer. The glove of the presentinvention is designed to solve the above-mentioned problems and otherconcerns. The glove provides up to a triple barrier of protection forthe user of the glove and the patient against pathogens, germs andcontaminants. The glove of the present invention uses the above agentsin powder form, liquid form or an additional bonded layer on theinterior of the glove. The glove of the present invention may beambidextrous in that there is no left or right handed glove or may beright and left handed.

A glove for protecting the hand of the user includes a substrate whichincludes an external surface of the glove; and a layer which includes aninterior surface of the glove and which includes a first agent and asecond agent.

The first agent may be a moisturizing agent, and the second agent may bea sanitizing agent.

The layer includes a third agent and the third agent may be a pHbalancer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a glove in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the glove of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the glove 100 of the present invention, and the glove100 includes a finger section 102, a thumb section 104 and a centralhand section 106. The glove 100 may be formed from elastomeric materialor cloth or any suitable material.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the glove 100 of the presentinvention. The glove 100 includes a interior surface 114 which is theinside surface that contacts the wearer of the glove 100. The glove 100additionally include an exterior surface 116 which is at the distal endof the user. The glove 100 includes a substrate 110 which may be madefrom elastomic material and the substrate 110 includes the exteriorsurface 116 of the glove 100. The glove 100 includes an agent layer 112which includes the interior surface 114 which may include apredetermined number of agents. The agent layer 112 may be continuousthroughout the glove 100, or the agent layer 112 may be non-continuousand found at specific locations. The agent layer 112 may be a solidwhich is bonded to the substrate 110, may be a powder which is bonded tothe substrates 110 or a liquid that coats the substrate 110. The agentlayer 112 may be heat activated. The glove 100 may be ambidextrous, mayhave a left and right glove, may come in various sizes, colors, lengths,thicknesses, tensile strength and textured material, and may be formedfrom synthetic, rubber or latex materials.

The first agent 120 is a moisturizer for rehydrating or maintaininghydration in skin and mucous membranes using bio-adhesives incombination with humectants and water complexing agents. In addition,this moisturizing first agent 120 has lubricating properties derivedfrom the moisturizing properties and unctuous components which make ituseful in preventing abrasions or soreness and redness resulting fromcontact with other materials.

Moisturizers are widely available for treating topical skin problemslike dry, flaking or cracked skin caused by loss of water, or abrasionsand redness caused by exposure and rubbing. There are many choices. Butas a general rule skin lotions and skin conditioners fail into a groupof types of formulations which can be broken out into two maincategories, the oil-in-water emulsions and hydrophobic barriersillustrated by the likes of petrolatum. Many of these formulations canbe used on either dermal or mucosal tissue and will work well on bothtypes of tissue, at least on the short or very short term of a few hoursor so.

Nearly all these moisturizers work by preventing or reducing moistureloss; however some add moisture back to the skin. Petrolatum and similarproducts are among the best at preventing or reducing water loss, andsince petrolatum adheres well to the skin, it's residence time and itsaffect is extended. Oil-in-water emulsions are absorbed into the skin,but often they lack a sustainable affect; water evaporation from theformula, once applied to the skin is high.

Some formulations can replenish the water lost through normalevaporation. Some compounds such as glycerol and some amino acids likearginine have found some favor in these attempts and have been labeledhumectants. Along with work on humectants, xerogels have been used in anattempt to increase the residence time on the skin of the water in themoisturizers. Some of these formulations may have lubricating propertiesas well. One has both a short acting and a long acting component and thecapability to adhere to and remain adhered to the site for up to severaldays. This is due to the use of two adhesive agents. One is immediatelyavailable when the moisturizer is applied. The other becomes availableat a later time as the gust adhesive agent is being dissolved or erodedaway. A composite particulate is used to provide both adhesives.

The sanitizing second agent 122 may include for exemplary purposes only,iodine solution, isopropyl alcohol and/or other alcohols, germicidalsolutions/gels, antimicrobial solutions/gels, antibacterialsolutions/gels, peroxide solutions/gels, antiseptic solutions/gelsand/or any combination thereof.

In 1928, Schade and Marchionini reported the existence of skin acidityand the importance of this mantle in preventing infection. They referredto the skin surface (SC) as an “acid mantle” having a protective roleand preventing growth of many environmental bacteria and fungi. Todaythe factors regulating skin surface pH are still unknown. However, thereis sufficient evidence to support the barrier function andself-disinfection of the skin's “acid mantle”. The pH value of human“acid mantle” is generally ranges from 4 to 6. On the other hand, thebody's internal pH is about neutral, ranging from about 7.35 to about7.46. Skin pH varies among different body areas and also depends on theskin moisture—skin areas with higher moisture having a higher pH.

Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a pH balancer third agent 124 to transfer to the skin duringuse and to the skin acid mantle to achieve proper skin moisture/vaporbalance and which users find soothing to irritated or damaged skin, andwhich users may find soothing to irritated skin and which may facilitatehealing of chapped skin and skin. Preferably, the skin pH balancer thirdagent 124 is an organic acid, a combination of an organic acid and thesalt of an organic acid, or a buffer combination.

The layer 112 may only include one of the first agent 120, the secondagent 124 or the third agent 124, or the layer may only include two ofthe first agent 120, the second agent 122 or the third agent 124.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that the description herein of specificembodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particularforms disclosed.

1) A glove for protecting the hand of the user, comprising: a substratewhich includes an external surface of the glove; and an agent layerwhich includes an interior surface of the glove and which includes afirst agent and a second agent. 2) A glove for protecting the hand ofthe user as in claim 1 wherein said first agent is the moisturizingagent. 3) A glove for protecting the hand of the user as in claim 2,wherein said second agent is a sanitizing agent. 4) A glove forprotecting the hand of the user as in claim 3, wherein said layerincludes a third agent. 5) A glove for protecting the hand of the useras in claim 4, wherein said third agent is a pH balancer. 6) A glove forprotecting the hand of the user as in claim 2, wherein said second agentis a pH balancer. 7) A glove for protecting the hand of the user as inclaim 1, wherein said first agent is a sanitizing agent. 8) A glove forprotecting the hand of the user as in claim 7, wherein said second agentis a pH balancer.